Dominica-born Tuskegee Airmen East Coast Chapter President Gabriel Christian said, to him, being on earth and not being able to serve others, means you have not lived

First Caribbean-born President of the Tuskegee Airmen East Coast Chapter, Dominica’s Washington-based Attorney and Author Gabriel Christian, this summer led the Tuskegee Airmen by organizing and hosting a historic fundraising event which featured two prominent Caribbean nationals during its ‘2019 Tuskegee Youth In Aviation Breakfast Fundraiser’ on May 25th in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The theme for this year’s 6th Annual fundraiser was ‘Honoring the Legacy of Excellence’.
 
The East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (ECCTAI) is the largest and most active chapter in the national organization and brings together -- in the spirit of friendship and goodwill -- all who share in the aspirations and successes of the men and women who pioneered military aviation in the Tuskegee Airmen; a group of Black military pilots who fought in World War II.
 
Raised by a decorated fireman father & a dutiful mother who impressed upon him the importance of civil services, Christian seeks to preserve the legacy of the proud Tuskegee Airmen. ‘Their successes expanded the bounds of freedom & equality for all people, at home & abroad’,
 
“At a time when space exploration is key to the survival of our species, our scholarship program helps fund activities that promote aerospace and youth leadership development, especially in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” said Christian. At the breakfast fundraiser Gabriel Christian said being on earth and not being able to serve others, to him means you have not lived.

​Tuskegee Airmen East Coast Chapter President, Dominican-born Gabriel Christian.
 
The event’s keynote speaker, Jamaican-native islander Robert Rashford, is an internationally known aerospace engineer whose wide-ranging work has earned him many awards. Today, he says to young people, “Expect challenges in your life; if you have no challenges, you do not live - use each one to motivate you to achieve great things.”
 
Rashford’s stellar accomplishments and focus on encouraging today’s youth to challenge themselves, made him the ideal choice for Keynote during the event.
 
ECCTAI is dedicated to fostering recognition of, and preserving the history of Black achievements in aviation, and to inspiring and motivating young men and women toward endeavors in aviation and aerospace careers.